Northern diesel BS program achieves AED Foundation accreditation

From Montana State University-Northern

Montana State University-Northern is pleased to announce that their four-year diesel technology degree is fully accredited with the Associated Equipment Distributors Foundation.

Attaining accreditation demonstrates the school's commitment to academic excellence and continuous improvement through the process of accreditation.

MSU-Northern is a comprehensive university offering programs and services at the associate, baccalaureate and master's levels. MSU-Northern's Diesel Technology program has been highly respected in the diesel equipment industry for many years.

"I want to recognize the faculty and staff at MSU-Northern who worked so hard to achieve the AED accreditation," Northern Chancellor Greg Kegel said. "The AED accreditation is a good example of one of the projects recommended and supported by our diesel advisory board. Our industry partners are very familiar with the AED Accreditation.  Therefore, it is important to us to give our students the credentials they will need to succeed in industry." 

This accreditation shows equipment industry stakeholders that the program has met rigorous industry-specific national construction equipment technical standards. This includes the areas of diesel engines, hydraulics-hydrostatics, electrical-electronics, power trains, A/C-heating and safety-administration. Current and prospective students can know that the program provides the best in diesel-equipment technical education as defined by the industry it serves.

"We began the process of accreditation many semesters ago," said Steven Don, professor and chair of Northern's College of Technical Sciences. "The AED Foundation has been identified as a leader in industry standards. Therefore, it made perfect sense to gain this accreditation. The standards covered in the accreditation are industry standards, not some random standard that has been put in place. Industry persons, educators, service persons, etc., all had input into the standards, and all have input into updates to the standards on a regular basis.'

"The accreditation now gives us national recognition for what we teach in our courses," said Northern Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Neil Moisey, PhD. "This nationally recognized accreditation also allows for the seamless transfer of students from an AED Foundation-accredited two-year diesel schools into our four-year diesel technology program as all of the students have been educated to the same standards. This will also allow more students to continue their education in the diesel industry."

Established in 1919, Associated Equipment Distributors is an international trade association based in Schaumburg, Illinois, representing over 700 construction equipment distributors, manufacturers and industry-service firms nationwide. AED members sell, service and rent equipment to such markets as heavy and light construction, mining, agriculture, forestry, aggregates, engines and industrial.

Established in 1991 and directed by AED members, The AED Foundation addresses professional education and workforce development in the industry. This includes AEDF Accreditation of diesel-equipment technology college programs and AEDF recognition of secondary diesel programs.